As expected, Justin Fields‘ time in New York is coming to an end. A trade has been worked out which will send him from the Jets to the Chiefs, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
This trade will include a late-round pick swap. The Jets are dealing Fields and a seventh-round pick to the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes. The sixth-rounder is in the 2027 draft, per colleague Tom Pelissero.
New York is retaining salary to facilitate this deal, SNY’s Connor Hughes reports. Per Pelissero, the Jets are taking on $7MM of the $10MM Fields was already guaranteed for the 2026 season. That will make him a cost-effective backup for the Chiefs, a team in need of insurance under center. Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from an ACL tear, leaving his Week 1 availability in question.
Gardner Minshew was in place as Kansas City’s backup, but he departed last week by agreeing to a free agent deal with the Cardinals. Fields will now be able to handle first-team reps through the offseason while Mahomes recovers. Other teams were interested in the former Bear and Steeler, per Schefter. He adds, however, that Fields’ preference was to join the Chiefs. With an immediate path to practice time in place with respect to Kansas City, that comes as no surprise.
For the Jets, a Fields departure was made even more likely once a reunion with Geno Smith was worked out. New York traded for Smith last week, and his contract was also reworked as part of the deal. The Jets will only be responsible for $3.3MM of Smith’s compensation for 2026. Paying out a larger figure has allowed for a parting of ways in Fields’ case, something which seemed inevitable once his brief tenure atop the depth chart came to an end.
The former first-rounder secured $30MM guaranteed on a two-year free agent deal last spring. Fields served as New York’s starter for nine contests, averaging less than 140 passing yards per game with a career-low 6.2 yards per attempt average. He managed 383 rushing yards and four scores on the ground, but Fields and the Jets’ passing game was the subject of public criticism from owner Woody Johnson before head coach Aaron Glenn decided to bench him. Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook saw time afterwards; Taylor is unsigned but Cook and Bailey Zappe are still in place for the Jets.
The cap savings ($11MM) and dead money charges ($12MM) generated by this trade are essentially a wash for New York. Kansas City, meanwhile, entered Monday with roughly $10MM in cap space – nowhere near as much as the Jets. Taking on Fields at a highly reduced rate will be key for the Chiefs as they sort out their QB depth chart. Fields will join Mahomes, Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener as signal-callers in Kansas City. The Ohio State product has expressed confidence he can still operate as a starter, and the opportunity to do so on a short-term basis may present itself in 2026.
Amazed they were able to move him.
Exactly
Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce you to Josh Johnson 2.0. Created by AI. LOL
Josh Johnson 1.0 is still out there and just signed another contract. Fields is far from that at this point.
I think it may be the perfect spot for him. Their offense is already designed around a mobile QB. They know Justin’s weaknesses so if they can design plays specifically for him, this could really be a win/win.
If Andy Reid can’t fix him, He’s just broken beyond repair. Just head for Canada.
“We” lol
Mahomes is likely out until week 5-10 range maybe longer
This is equivalent to signing him to a 1 year deal given the insignificant trade assets
Kelce just decided retirement with Taylor Swift is looking better and better by the day.
I smell a QB battle 👀
Im confused. Why trade for him in the first place?
Patrick likely not ready for the start of the season and Fields is light years better than Oladokun.
Thank you. I cant delete my comment. I read this as NYJ trading Geno to KC.
@thegreatgoodbye. Because he’s only 3m. That’s not bad for a backup, and atleast he can run. That’s how much lance costs. I think the rest of the market will want 5-8 million.
Because the Jets are paying Fields and KC has no cap space.
If nothing else, this makes sense for a team that refuses to use their quarterback for quarterback sneaks. But as a Jets fan I’m pretty surprised to see him exit by trade. I imagine when the details emerge, they won’t involve much financial burden going to KC or much draft compensation going east.
Jets gotta be paying most of his salary, maybe Mahomes had a setback? He’s a really good backup in a league with so few usable QBs.
I wouldnt put Fields, a QB who cannot competently operate an NFL offense, a really good backup QB. A good backup is one that can usually do the basics
Their offense is designed for a mobile QB. Fields may be the most athletic QB in the NFL. If anyone can create a situation where he’s put in the best position to succeed, it’s Andy Reid.
If you’re just looking for an athletic QB to be your back up, I’ve got a shiny, new Anthony Richardson to sell you😊
Fields came almost free, by NFL standards. Richardson will take more than a 6th round pick next year, and I don’t think Undy will cover 70% of his salary.
This is just typical fan speak. There’s barely 15 playable QBs in the NFL. Fields has been fine in terrible situations. For all the talk about how bad of a passer he is, his career completion percentage is still above Caleb Williams last season, and he’s an elite runner.
He’s easily a top 5 backup in the league if you go team by team.
No, this is Fields is bad speak. You have to design a very limited but special offense to cater to his skill set. Hes not a plug and play guy, which is what you’d want from a backup. And he quite literally has not been fine, its why after Steelers defense carried him to 4-2 he was benched. He cannot operate an NFL offense. Go watch some all 22s until you learn that
Im also going to ignore the fact that you tried to suggest that Fields is a better passer than Williams in any capacity
Of course, the Jets GM that signed him kept his job. What a moronic franchise.
Can you fire GMs in Madden? Maybe Woody’s kid told him Madden said they had to keep the GM.
Maybe the brainless B.S. artists don’t understand that player moves don’t happen in a vacuum.
BTW, the Jets travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead this coming season. Potential for a split network on the back half of a CBS doubleheader.
The free agent qb options were not good last year…the jets took a flier. If you were paying attention you’d know Mougey has made some very shrewd moves trade wise. Including unloading fields for anything based on last years play….which btw doesn’t it make the chiefs gm the moron in this scenario?
The Jets are drafting in the top 5-10 for the umpieth time over 2 decades. Don’t tell me they have a shrewd GM. Less the HC, the entire coaching staff was turned over this year.
link to heavy.com
Teams dont get rebuilt in 1 year. Most real nfl fans know this.
Most NFL fans know the jets have longest playoff drought in US pro sports as well.
Ok my last post since youre just not paying attention or just trolling. The jets have stunk since rexs early years. Thats not in dispute. But they are in year 2 of a new regime. The jury is out on the head coach but the GM is getting alot of praise for multiple solid moves. Unloading fields for anything of value and saving 3M was one of them. Good night and good luck.
Year 1 of the rebuild was disastrous that the fired the majority of the coaching staff and traded their handpicked QB after 1 season.
And I agree on the coach…but im willing to give a rookie HC a 2nd year. But this is about mougey who is showing signs of being a good gm.
uhhh you got it backwards.
The Chiefs will take on $3 million of the $10 million Justin Fields was guaranteed in 2026, per source. So, the Jets effectively offset both the cash and pick they gave up to get new starter Geno Smith by moving last year’s starter.
you said the jets are taking on the 3 mill.
And Fields still sucks. Just a new uniform and a new city.
Omg how stupid are the chiefs? Have they seen this bust play?!
Busts who have some plus trait and are still among the 60 best quarterbacks in football get paid something like KC is paying him. Trey Lance is also making similar money.
And not to be a Fields apologist because I think he is garbage, but he did keep the Steelers afloat a couple years ago. He didn’t put up mind blowing stats, but he did have a 4-2 record and 5TD/1INT. Russ took over and went 6-1 before finishing 0-4, 0-5 if you count the playoff loss. Having your career so far with the Bears and Jets is never going to be an indicator of your talent. I think he could be servicable for 2-4 games needed to get Mahomes back on the field.
Not just the Bears, but the Eberflus-led Bears. Fields hasn’t yet shown himself to be a consistent legit starting QB in the league, but he sure as hell wasn’t done any favors having the Eberflus regime in place during his early years.
As a long time Bears fan I’ve wondered how things may have “shaken” out if the Bears drafted Mahomes and KC drafts Fields. My guess, Fields becomes a solid starter. Likely not an MVP or multi Superbowl winner, but solid. And Mahomes, well, with the Bears, much like Fields today. A backup being bounced around. We will never know. Maybe in some alternate universe.
@fred k. Burke. Chargers were interested in Lamar Jackson as a WR. The only team for that matter, but yes some players get screwed by the teams that draft them. My guess is Reid thinks atleast he can run, and do short passes. Kinda like lance with the chargers.
Fields cannot process an NFL offensive play in 2.5 seconds. He simply can’t do it. There’s nothing any coach can do to fix it.
If that was true, do you think multiple Super Bowl winner, Andy Reid would’ve gone for this?
I think they went for his mobility and athleticism, kinda like how Reid used Michael Vick. But down 4 with one minute left and ball at the 35, I wouldn’t trust Fields at all. Fields had the potential to be a mini Lamar Jackson, but just can’t read his WRs and make throws consistently to move an offense down the field. Key word consistently.
Besides the fact that there are very few back ups in the league that anybody would trust, Reid is one coach who would actually have a plan for it. You’re also judging Fields’ past performance on bad teams with poor coaching. Let’s see if he proves you and others wrong.
Totally bro Tomlin had no plan it was just poor coaching and bad teams around him. Give me a break go watch some film, the only time he sees an open WR is if its broken coverage
Fields has been around a ton of NFL coaches and still can’t process a play. Doesn’t matter how good or bad the players are around him. He was benched for Russell Wilson on a playoff team, probably because Wilson can see the field, read his WRs and decide where to throw, while Fields can’t.
He isn’t the first nor last QB to be drafted high and not make it. At some point you have to say he just doesn’t have it. He’s been in the league long enough.
We’ll see, won’t we..
Being a jets fan this is exactly what I observed last year. Many times garrett wilson wide open and fields just failed to see him.
@Fred I don’t know that Fields would’ve risen to Mahomes level of success had he been drafted by the Chiefs, but I am certain that Mahomes would’ve had a middling career had the Bears drafted him instead of Trubisky. The Bears have been making a mess of things for decades. Hell, even after a can’t miss selection of Caleb dropped into their laps, the FO/Ownership still couldn’t stop themselves screwing things up by allowing Eberflus to guide him through his rookie year.
Being drafted by the Chiefs isn’t going to change his ability to read a defense. Maybe having Kelce to dump it off to pads his numbers, but he’s still gonna have the same issue that sunk him in CHI, PIT, and NY.
He’s at least 10x better than noodle arm Minshew and trading a pick over a year away was a good trade. I hope he starts the season so Pat doesn’t rush back too soon and rg3 his leg.
@Kc smoke. They will probably get a comp pick for minshew. So it washes out.
Andy Reid will weave his QB Whisperer magic on Justin Fields in any games he starts for The Chiefs, and Fields will play some of the best football of his career. Some bottom tier team will buy the hype next off season thinking Justin Fields has turned things around. He’ll get another contract from one of those QB starving bottom tier teams and they will regret it immediately.
If Reid can do with Fields what LaFluer did with Willis, they could end up with a Compensatory Pick in 2028. The Browns still exist and love to sign QBs.
Alternate scenario: Fields is so bloody awful that Andy starts thinking retirement isn’t such a bad idea after all 🙂
Jets: “Hey, remember a couple years ago when we basically gave you back the guy who caught the SB winning pass for pennies on the dollar?”
Chiefs: “Yep”.
Jets: “Can you do us a huge solid?”
I’ve got a feeling we’ll be seeing some interesting Bieniemy/Reid formations/plays, even when Patty gets back behind center.
What you wont see is fields recognizing open receivers.
Is that on Fields, or the Chiefs collection of “receivers”?
I wouldn’t be shocked if the chiefs bring in another QB and we see fields used as a gadget player
Not a bad idea. Only he specifically told Aaron Glenn he did not want to be a taysom hill type player after he got benched last year. He’d probably do it for the chiefs though or risk being ostracized. Things like that dont happen when youre on the jets and pull that…in that case the media piles on the jets or it just goes unnoticed.
They solved their RB woes with adding Walker and Fields. Nicely done KC!
KC now has a guy that sounds like a frog and a guy that looks like a frog playing QB.
Also, the Jets are paying $56.4 for 3 guys to not play QB for them next year (Rodgers, Fields, T. Taylor)
Technically the dead cap money is already paid…so not exactly. Also raiders are paying geno 15 million for geno to start for the jets. Just sayin.
…has he committed a crime we haven’t heard about?
Unusual move by the Chiefs.
$3 million for cannon fodder.
Well yeah. They’re paying him a hair under 1% of the cap.
Andy Reid does have a Golden Touch with QBs.
Chicago has never been able to develop QBs.
The Jets are ….well the Jets….
Clearly there will not be a QB1 battle in KC…..
But I can’t help but wonder if he is not finally in a place that can help him make use of his physical skills…
If the Chiefs are looking for a cheap backup, this is about the best they can do.
Shocked he wasn’t released
He probably would have been, but this trade at least gives them a pick next year and some (minimal) salary relief.
True more so I’m surprised there were takers. Fields was awful last year lol
I’ll “assume” the Chiefs wanted an experienced backup that more or less fit their system, wanted to avoid potentially losing Fields if he became a FA and since the Jets essentially gave him away…why not take the chance?
A late round pick next year and $3M in salary (that the Chiefs owe) is truly nothing in today’s NFL.
For me, the Chiefs’ risk is they’re banking on this guy for maybe a few games if Mahomes is not ready and they could be digging an insurmountable hole by the time Mahomes returns. Maybe Reid thinks he can salvage Fields?
Mougey is stacking good trades. Now hes gotta nail the draft.
Buy High, Sell Low is the Jets way of continuing as an NFL farm team.
The NIL money will prevent them from ever drafting a good QB again in our lifetime.
Good thing the Bears drafted Williams when they did and matched him with a good QB coach.
Hopefully the Raiders can do the same before the door closes on them.
Probably too late for the Cardinals. Maybe they can join the UFL.
It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for them.
What movie is this from? And who’s cotton? Does he play dodgeball? Or just announce it?
STFU you’re not original
@5590dmh
How about you STFU.
Talk about a player falling from a high level a few times now and still landing in his feet. Congratulations, Mr. Fields.
And the QB carousel continues.. Goodluck in KC Justin!
Best place for him
Waste of a pick.
There’s a lot to unpack with this. The thought of Justin Fields running the KC offense, even for a week or two, is mind blowing.
I’m old enough to remember the most delusional “fans” in all of sports, actually thought Fields would be traded for THREE first round draft picks as a base package.
Here’s looking at you Chicago…
@ohmy. Pretty sure it was unclemike.
Another Ryan Pace failure nobody in Chicago wanted. Weren’t you the guy who wanted 5 top 100 prospects from the Cubs for an Angels Catcher? Wouldn’t throw stones if I was you.
@unclemike. It was 3, but i said that would be the asking price, and they had no point to trade him, and the article was bs. You were the guy that said three firsts for fields and the fries deal wasn’t a overpay it’s still definitely that. So say what you want. I just know you always have bad takes, and never own up to it. So do you and provide humor.
First of all you’re a liar and I never ever said anywhere Fields was worth 3 first round picks, It’s pure fiction in you’re puny head. All I ever wanted for Fields was the 2nd they agreed to for Fields before Pittsburgh cheated on the deal by pulling Fields before he made the required number of starts that turned the 2nd into a 4th. So you lie again. You really don’t want to start with me because you’re not smart enough. I was totally happy when the Steelers went down in flames when they pulled Fields when they were winning and ended up losing like 6 in a row and got creamed in the Playoffs. I’m still laughing.
Jets did the best they could to get rid of him and still salvage something (if a 6th round pick next year is considered “something”). I have not followed Fields’ career but he seems like a decent guy and is unquestionably an excellent athlete. Hopefully, Any Reid can help Fields salvage his career.
Can’t imagine being a Jets Fan! How can they be consistently horrible for 50+ out of the last 57 Years? Dissolve that team or sell to a new owner that will relocate it to help alleviate the overall Stench of it
So says a keyboard warrior that doesn’t have the money to own or operate an NFL club.
At least the Jets have never gone winless in a season, unlike the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.